Azra & Elise’s Story (Uoria Mates IV Book 10)

by Ruth Anne Scott

  I didn’t want to, but even though I’d just met Dulex I didn’t want to be the reason he died. I would be okay, after punishment of course. That I wasn’t looking forward to. Father could be a real bastard and he was especially hard on me. He had such high expectations, and I always seemed to fail him. Now things would be even more tense between us. I wanted him to accept me as I was, not mold me into what he thought I should be. I’d never be the kind of daughter he wanted. I wouldn’t be my mother. I wanted more than that in life, and no matter how much I loved her, I knew she needed a backbone. She needed independence and to use the strength I knew she had hidden inside.

  Taking one last look at my mate I ignored the tears that threatened to fall. I shouldn’t be so upset. At least I’d gotten to meet him, heal him, touch him, and best of all kiss him. That was more than I could have asked for. At the rate, I’d been going I wouldn’t have ever even gotten to see him.

  I opened the door to the cabin and didn’t look over my shoulder to see him again. It would hurt too much. Instead I rushed out shutting it quietly. I started my descent down the rickety stairs when I was grabbed from behind. I should have known there would be someone in waiting for me to decide what to do. They had to know how fast I was. They didn’t want to give me a chance to run. My guard was too far down after nursing Dulex back to health from the fatal wound, and I didn’t realize until too late that the men who grabbed me, couldn’t be from the council. In fact, they weren’t even vampires. I wrinkled my nose when the scent of Fae surrounded me, and I was appalled that my family would even considering using that sort of magic against me. Mother was the one who helped me run, and now I feared she was in trouble. They drug me through the grassy field and back into the woods where I’d found Dulex. When they stopped in front of the very place he laid I realized that maybe these men weren’t after me—they were after my mate. My fangs extended and I nicked my lip letting out a feral growl.

  “Where is he?”

  “Gone.” There was no way I was telling them anything and I prayed he wasn’t in the cabin. I prayed he could run before the other Fae searched.

  “You have his scent.”

  “Well, he is my mate.” There was no sense in lying. The bond between them was growing more each second, and the longer they were apart the worse it would become. Fate didn’t like her plans failing. Even though we hadn’t bonded there was still intimate contact.

  The kiss. That’s all it took to start it.

  The Fae stared at me. “Mate with that abomination?”

  I glared at him even though They couldn’t see my rage, I knew they could feel it building. The Fae were magic. Plain and simple, and they knew better than to take me. “Do you know who I am?”

  Silence.

  “Oh, come on, one little guess?” It was going to be fun toying with them.

  The stupid asses.

  They shouldn’t have taken the Princess of the Vampires. Not only would my father be pissed—no matter how angry he was with me—but now I had a mate. Mates were fierce.

  The obvious leader curled his lip into a snarl. “It doesn’t matter who you are, little one.”

  It would have been endearing without the growl. “Oh, I think it does.” I held up one finger. “Just one little guess?” I let my eyes glow lavender; it was unique to my family line. Each of the four royal families had a different color and different gifts, but my father ruled them all. It was how others knew who we were by sight alone. It would show them and I wasn’t surprised when his eyes widened in surprise.

  “Princess of the Lucians?”

  “Yeah, dumb ass you just kidnapped King Quinton’s only child.”

  “Scheisse,” he muttered.

  I laughed. The German Fae were the type that jumped without thinking. “Yes, shit.” I smiled showing fang. “He’s not going to be happy.”

  It was then the other male smirked but kept his glare as if he were contemplating. “We could use this to our advantage.”

  Damn, he was the dominate one. I should have known that when the first male cowered. “Not a good idea.”

  He looked at me. “I don’t care. It’s too late now, might as well go out with a bang. Once our queen finds out we failed in getting our target we’re as good as dead anyways.”

  Great nothing to live for. I sighed. “Fine if you insist.” I held out my wrists allowing the beta to wrap the cuffs around my wrists. They didn’t bother me, but they did block my magic. I wasn’t really concerned. I should have been. The other Fae with the long black curly hair and deep green eyes, well he was pure evil. I felt it to my bones and shuddered as he watched his partner lock up my magic. He really didn’t care if he died. I wondered what turned him so cold.

  ***

  Dulex

  I woke to silence. It didn’t take me long to realize the cabin was empty and had been for quite a while. Azaria wasn’t there. I sat up too fast and groaned when pain shot through my chest. The stitches tried to pull but luckily, she’d done a great job sewing me up. I slid from the bed and gripped the headboard until my balance was stable. I needed to find her. Certainly, she wouldn’t have left me alone. As a mate, she wouldn’t go far, unless there’d been no choice. The beast growled and my hand lit up with a bright white light. The Fae in me wanted to go on the defense. It was the first time my duel nature was on the same page. It only took finding our mate.

  ‘Must find her,’ the bear said growling low.

  ‘She is ours,’ the Fae said just as possessive as the beast.

  I agreed with both assessments. The problem. I was in shit for shape. Right now, I wouldn’t do her any good. In fact, if I were to be honest, which I wasn’t prepared for, I would probably end up getting us both killed. That couldn’t happen. Now for the first time in my life I had something—someone to live for. A smile tugged at my lips. It was such a foreign feeling. I wasn’t sure how to deal with it. Part of it scared the hell out of me. What if I fucked this up?

  Having the Fae on my tail constantly and being kicked out of every den; there wasn’t much I could do with my own kind. I might as well join the guard staff for Ria’s family. It would tie us even closer together. The idea struck me so easily. But first I needed to get the damn Fae off my ass and the price off my head. That would be easier said than done—if even possible. There was a chance I would leave my mate before I even had a chance to love her the way she deserved—the way I deserved. My shoulders fell thinking of not getting to be with her for the rest of my life. Fate wouldn’t be so cruel, would she?

  Chapter 5

  Dulex

  I opened the door right as a gentle breeze blew the autumn leaves and was slapped in the face with the scent of the Fae, the same Fae that had been tracking me for the last several months. My beast roared in despair and the Fae bellowed realizing his own kind took our mate. Again, I was struck by how much my dual nature had coincided. They were pissed. Ria was gone and it was because of me and the fact that

  I shouldn’t even be.

  The worst part of it all…I scented no blood and very little aggression from my mate. There was no fear or even remote sadness.

  She didn’t fight.

  She let them take her—to protect me.

  The worst part of it all—I should have known my mate would be protective and strong. She was the first woman that shared equal, if not more, strength, than I. It was eye opening how much I needed someone strong. It would be nice to have a partner, someone to lean on, especially in times like this.

  One slow step at a time, I made my way down the stairs off the porch from the cabin. It was hidden all right, but that hadn’t stopped the Fae from tracking me down. The sun was low in the sky and trees surrounded me. Even with my enhanced vision there was nothing to see for miles other than pure nature. I sighed.

  “This would be perfect in a better situation.” I spoke to no one, but as my heart rate picked up, and I knew I was being watched. There were more Fae somewhere. I closed my eyes trying to zone in on their
location. I took a deep breath and let my sense expand.

  In the distance, I felt the magic. A lot of it. There were at least three other Fae in waiting for me.

  They’d come prepared. Their magic strummed through my veins waking my Fae half wake up further. It was almost if their energy recharged me making mine come alive. A shard of pain whipped through my chest. I felt the would knit itself back together and chuckled through the process. It seemed being so close to my kind only helped me—not hindered me. Within minutes, my wound was healed and the stitches pulled outward. I closed my eyes and held my arms out palms out to either side of me. The magic of nature come to my fingertips and when I squinted my eyes open my palms were lit like the brightest of lights.

  Tipping my head back I watched the sun descend the horizon. Not far in the distance to the east I saw a lone figure. He was large with white hair flowing in the breeze. Even far away I felt his stare. Icy cold and filled with such hatred. Why was it the Fae were so bitter and angry? I didn’t know. The only thing I did know for certain was I needed to find Azaria. She was with these beings and who knew what they were doing to her.

  I made my decision then and pushed forward. Stalking towards the lone Fae I was focused. He would take me to my mate. I was healed. In fact, I felt better than ever, strong and lethal. Energy radiated off me in waves surrounding me. I was protecting.

  The blood she’d given me mixed with my own power and grew. I needed to release the raw power and I knew exactly how I was going to do it.

  I was going to kill anyone who got in my way. If they so much as laid their filthy hands on her, they needed to hide.

  ***

  When I woke up I was in a cell. It was dark, but that didn’t bother me, and I wasn’t alone.

  “Dulex?”

  Her voice was both a balm and a trigger to my soul. It was quiet and held fear. The fear I hadn’t sensed from her back in the cabin. I wanted to run to her but I was on a short chain. There was a metal, magic infused collar around my neck. I cringed when it sparked.

  “Ria, I’m sorry. I should have told you.”

  Whispering was no use; they could hear every word we said.

  “What did you do?”

  When I would have answered a new voice did so for me.

  “Nothing little one, he didn’t have to. Existing is enough.”

  I felt her tension rise and realized he was one that had helped take her.

  She growled low in her throat. “Shut up.”

  The male chuckled. “I told you we’d end up in the same place, only I might be able to save myself.” He clucked his tongue. “You two on the other hand—not a chance.”

  It didn’t pass my notice that he was resigned and didn’t care.

  “I did better than anyone else, I may gain my freedom yet. The fact that he followed after you and landed in my trap might just be enough.”

  “Don’t hold your breath,” she replied low. “just because he came for me means nothing to me or anyone else for that matter.”

  I wasn’t sure where she was going with this, but I hoped she didn’t mean that. Sure we hadn’t gotten a chance, but we were mates. “Ria,”

  “Shut up,” she replied. “I need to think. Father will surely be looking for me. Hell, I thought he’d sent his trackers. But of course, I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

  She was angry with me. “I’m sorry I got you into this.”

  She didn’t respond but I felt her stare, and her eyes glowed purple. They were stunning.

  “Looks like she isn’t happy to see you, big man. If your mate doesn’t want you that just means even more how little of importance you are. I don’t even know why my queen wants you so badly.”

  There was no reason to respond so I kept my mouth shut and studied my mate. Her body was tensed in a coil, much like a snake that was ready to attack. Her fangs extended and her fingers curved like claws.

  She was breathtaking.

  “Stop staring at me.”

  I didn’t.

  She huffed and stared back. “Why do they want you so badly?”

  “Because I exist. I’m a bear-Fae hybrid, not supposed to be. Apparently, a strong one considering the price on my head and how long I’ve been on the run.”

  The male hissed. “I almost had you,” he pointed a finger at Azaria. “Had this bitch left you be you would be dead right now.”

  “Watch yourself,” I said and licked my lips when the bear tried to come out. It didn’t happen. The cells were magic. I couldn’t shift or use my power. I could feel it locked up with chains and there was no breaking them.

  “Oh, protective,” the male taunted.

  He was trying to get under my skin. It worked. I wanted to rip his fucking head off.

  She stared at me now. “So, you didn’t do anything to deserve this?”

  “No, I’ve been running my whole life, they murdered my mother for her affair with a Fae.”

  My voice went cold. The disappointment that she assumed the worst tasted terrible on my tongue. “She protected me from them. And once she was gone I kept going.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  I shrugged. “It’s my life. I deal okay. If fuckers like these would just leave me the hell alone. I don’t cause any problems. Neither did my mother. She couldn’t help who Fate deemed her mate.”

  The male laughed. “They were not mated. Fae do not mate with bears.”

  I glared his way. “You’re stupid if you believe that, and your queen knows it too. She isn’t as innocent as she appears.”

  He stood and came to the bars, not touching them. His face contorted into an angry mask filled with rage. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. “

  I smiled showing fang. I could do that. “I know a lot more than you think I do.”

  A door creaked in the distance and we stopped talking. He didn’t realize that my father taught me many things of the Fae before he was killed.

  Footsteps echoed down the hall as someone came the direction to our cells. It was a woman in an old-fashioned dress. She had long blond curls and golden eyes.

  “Dulex, we finally meet.”

  Her voice was nothing more than a soft purr. I didn’t say a word.

  ***

  Azaria

  I flinched as the woman’s stare lingered on his bare chest. Tension ignited between me and this woman that dared stare at my mate in a lustful way. He was mine dammit!

  I growled keeping my eyes on her. She was trouble. Her stare shot to me and her pouty lips turned up into a smile. She was going to do whatever it took to ruin me. Her eyes shined knowing I was about to freak out.

  “So, you’re Quinton’s daughter. Funny I thought you’d be prettier.” She pushed her upper body out making her breasts pop over the top of her dress. As if that would get my mate’s attention.

  It didn’t.

  Lucky for him or I’d have his balls.

  “I suppose even less than average women need a mate too.”

  Really? She played petty games saying stuff our kin would say.

  “Does my father know I’m here?”

  “Why would he? You interfered with our rights. We don’t answer to the Vampire council any more than you answer to us.”

  “Not true. Father always tried to work with other Supes.”

  The woman laughed and opened the cell door. She sauntered in the room to my mate watching me the entire time. It took everything in me not to rip her throat out. And as fun as that sounded, it wouldn’t get us out of the mess we were in.

  I sighed watching her run long nails over his healing wounds. For his part, Dulex stood still and glared at her. He didn’t like her touch.

  Good.

  Chapter 6

  Dulex

  The bitch needed to get her hands off me. I knew it was a ploy to piss Ria off, and from the looks of things it was working.

  Her eyes flared and she hissed when the woman ran her nails down my chest. I shuddered but not for enjoym
ent. It was disgust. I hoped my mate understood that.

  I frowned when a tear slid down her cheek.

  “It’s okay Ria.”

  She didn’t respond and my heart ached. I tried to convey how I felt without words.

  The female growled. “Come on, it’s time for the trial.”

  I knew one day I would be behind those doors, but I never thought my mate would be. “Take me, leave Azaria out of it.”

  She laughed. “No can do, beast. The queen wants to see her specifically.”

  Well hell.

  “How can I get the queen to let her go and take me—”

  “No!” Azaria said. “We can do this together.”

  Her voice softened at the end melting my heart for the first time in so long. I needed to get us the hell out of this. We needed to complete the bond. It would be like we knew each other forever then.

  Fated.

  The woman sighed when I didn’t react the way she hoped. She didn’t like that Ria had my complete attention.

  “Fine, let’s get this over with.” I knew there was no way out of this and Azaria had to be involved. She was a princess for fuck’s sake. That was asking for war. I couldn’t believe they were stupid enough to take her—just to get me. They were on the verge of a cliff of desperation. They might as well have jumped without looking because once King Quinton found out his daughter was in a dungeon, they were up shit’s creek.

  The female nodded and unlocked the chain from the wall. She tugged it a bit too tight to assert her control. There was no reason to fight her.

  “Come on mutt,” she said.

  I growled but followed her.

  She looked at Azaria. “Someone will be back for you.”

  ***

  Azaria stood next to me in front of the Fae council. None looked very happy to see us, but none stopped me from sliding closer to her so the sides of our bodies touched. She sucked in a sharp breath and I tried not to smile. The warmth of my body seeped into the chill of hers. A vamp went cold when stressed, angry, or hurt. Needless to say, she was two out of the three.